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Porter's Chairs Carry Rooms Into Comfort
Graceful and practical as chilly days set in, high-back porter's chairs provide fetching, snuggle-ready seating for you and your guests
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If you love the feeling of being cocooned and protected all the way around, then a porter's chair might be the one for you. Personally, I find these great for sitting in while reading my favorite murder mystery because nobody could grab my neck to strangle me from behind. I know — too vivid of an imagination.
If murder is not on your mind but protection from chilly drafts is, then we're still on the right track. Porter's chairs date back to medieval England and 16th-century France, where they were used near the front door of great halls and castles. They didn't have doorbells in those days, but they did have servants, and one of their biggest, burliest servants, a porter, would sit in one of these chairs all day waiting to answer the door, greet visitors and turn away the riffraff.
The sides of the chair come forward and up to create a hood overhead to screen out drafts — a great idea since castles were not known for their HVAC systems. I'm sure they were a big hit with the porters. Check out the updated versions below. They just might be a hit with you too.
If murder is not on your mind but protection from chilly drafts is, then we're still on the right track. Porter's chairs date back to medieval England and 16th-century France, where they were used near the front door of great halls and castles. They didn't have doorbells in those days, but they did have servants, and one of their biggest, burliest servants, a porter, would sit in one of these chairs all day waiting to answer the door, greet visitors and turn away the riffraff.
The sides of the chair come forward and up to create a hood overhead to screen out drafts — a great idea since castles were not known for their HVAC systems. I'm sure they were a big hit with the porters. Check out the updated versions below. They just might be a hit with you too.
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Fast forward several hundred years, and you end up with beautiful porter's chairs like the set gathered here around a dining table. I would use these with a round table since it would be a little hard to see people sitting directly beside you. I think these would make you feel really special, as if you had your own throne. I think the large-scale print up the back and the center of the front is very elegant paired with the contrasting double welt.
This simpler white porter's chair gives just the barest nod to the whole protective-hood idea. The design probably wouldn't keep out a draft, but it is a lovely style. I think this chair would work in transitional spaces as well as traditional ones.
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by Janet Paik
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| A pair of zebra-stripe porter's chairs offers a fun way to cozy up to the fireplace. Facing them toward each other creates an intimate conversation space for two. |
A crisp green fabric with white wood is a fresh look. This one is also near a door, so the domed style would be a nice choice to protect from breezes.
| The scale of this chair makes it perfect for an accent chair worthy of its own corner. Leather or mohair are sumptuous choices for upholstery. Either would lend a feel of richness and luxury. |
by EcoFirstArt.com
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These chairs get called a lot of other things, such as dome chairs and balloon chairs. While I was reading one of the aforementioned murder mysteries, the story kept referring to various characters sitting in the Orkney chair. I had never heard of it before, so thank goodness for the Internet. A quick search turned up these great-looking chairs.
The Orkney Islands are a 45-minute ferry ride north of the Scottish mainland. As you can imagine, it is cold and windy there. These chairs were traditionally made from driftwood and woven sea grass, since there are no trees on the Orkney Islands, and they became popular back before central heating was widely used. That was about all the history I could stand before I had to go back to my murder mystery.
The Orkney Islands are a 45-minute ferry ride north of the Scottish mainland. As you can imagine, it is cold and windy there. These chairs were traditionally made from driftwood and woven sea grass, since there are no trees on the Orkney Islands, and they became popular back before central heating was widely used. That was about all the history I could stand before I had to go back to my murder mystery.
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Taking the porter's chair idea outside, this rattan version protects from sun and wind. I love the little porthole detail on the sides to let you sneak a peek at the hot-looking beach bunnies and lifeguards.
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And now for something completely different. A print of skeletal remains adorns the back of this porter's chair, giving it rock star cachet. It's an unexpected twist on this classic style.
Another exoskeleton idea, with wooden ribs surrounding the chair. All architecture on the outside and padded, button-accented elegance inside.
This eye catcher features a squared-off hooded shape and is also by Noir. Using one fabric on the outside and another on the inside ups the visual interest.
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This pretty porter's chair solves the issue of the side view with the dome portion made out of cane. More for style than keeping the heat in, it is a very attractive version.
Ideabook published on Aug. 28, 2012.
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Texaslightsmith -- Gotcha! Now we know you don't actually read the articles. :0) The explanation of the name is in the lead in at the top.
traveladdict1967 -- Sounds like you got a great deal. I mentioned some of the other names in the paragraph next to the Orkney chair. The only name I would disagree with is Bubble chair. because that name is pretty firmly attached to another iconic style of chair. If you ask for a bubble chair you're going to get something like one in this Ideabook by Becky Harris.
logicbutton -- Always glad to know other murder mystery fans. Tell her my latest reading jag is going through Harlan Coben novels. On the whole diy thing -- that would be a doozy of a project.
My dad is a huge fan of Baldacci. I like Koontz, but I guess he's not really mystery however I am always looking for a good book, I'm going to check out a couple of the authors listed. Pangaea, I'm really curious who the writer is you are talking about but I won't google to find out the answer. :)
Now does anyone know, if the Wingback chair is the offspring of the Porter chair? I'm guessing it might be. Does anyone know for sure?
Design Diva -- Glad you liked the IB. Also wish Kelley Wearstler had some photos of those on Houzz that I could have included.
Morgana44 -- You got it. Anne Perry is the murder mystery author who was convicted of murder in 1954. Her name was Pauline Parker and she and her friend killed the friend's mother hitting her 45 times between the two of them with a brick in a stocking. Pretty grizzly. A movie called Heavenly Creatures was made about this murder. And yes, I would probably need to sit in a high back chair to watch that movie.
Laurel -- You're probably right, but I still think they would be nice next to a fireplace. And just being able to curl up and lean in to it would be nice even if the extra warmth isn't needed. I do think they are a great idea for an outdoor chair.